I have heard the best news I have heard in a long time. After nearly 5 months, I AM MEDICALLY qualified! I will be contacted by my placement officer soon. ON to the next step. This is becoming more and more real as time goes on (:

Read part of the letter below (click on the picture):

I’m SOOO HAPPY

After months and months of having a bunch of test run, and doing everything to fulfill medical requirements. I am finished! After FIVE looooong months. I want to scream!

I spoke to my Dad, who has always encouraged me to follow my gut, and he’s taking me out to celebrate. I am so grateful to have a fantastic support system.

I am so close to dream. I had a period of time when I was in doubt, but doubts can hinder you. I am definitely headed in the right direction.

Should I be worried or proud that Microsoft Paint is the second most opened software on my computer?

*Drink with your pinky raised. It won’t work if your pinky is not raised. trust me.

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Seriously though. waiting sucks. I have SO much time until my *departure* date (Peace Corps). I think the antsy-ness I’m feeling is making me a little bit cray-cray. So, I’m going to fill in that time by volunteering, learning to play the ukulele (two years after I bought the uke), and applying to a sh*t ton of paid AND unpaid internships, cause I have standards (HAHA).

S.T.R.E.S.S is…..ummm… stressful. The next two weeks are going to be a stress adventure.

I graduate on Saturday, I still haven’t packed anything in my dorm and on top of that I do not have insurance. I have had insurance my entire life, but it was removed when I turned 21. SO, I have spent the last 3 days trying to find low-cost alternatives for the un-insured. That was not fun. It took me A LOT of digging to find these amazing programs and I am so glad I took the time to find them.

On top of this, the Peace Corps is pressuring me to turn in my Health packet ASAP or I will be discontinued from the Application process! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Now I have to find money out of nowhere to pay for all of my upcoming appointments AND I found out I will be leaving before OCTOBER.

On an unrelated note: I have a splinter in my thumb (:

Its ok Mani..It’s going to be ok.

SOOOOO, I’m going to go through MY stress relaxing process:

STOP

Don’t let the stress get to you. If it becomes overwhelming, TAKE A BREAK. Take your time.

Breathe…In and out. I know we’ve all heard this from everywhere, but it really works. I found a quiet place and I just relaxed and listened to my own breathing. I know it sounds cheesy but it removed a huge chunk of stress from me. Listening to myself breathing brings me to my next tip.

2. BE GRATEFUL

Be grateful for how far you’ve come and appreciate the fact that you are breathing. If what you are stressing over is that bad, take a moment to think about all of the good things in your life. I thought of my family and how I am glad that I have a source of happiness. I am grateful that I’ll always have somewhere to go if things don’t work out. I’m grateful for my health and I’m grateful for my life. Take a moment out everyday to reflect on your life.

I’m Thankful I have something to stress over.

3. GET MOTIVATED

I can’t do anything unless there is something positive driving me. Life is a challenge: accept it. I wouldn’t be anywhere if I lived my life through fear, not would I be going anywhere. Be your own mascot.

4. ENCOURAGE YOURSELF and OTHERS

On my last day of my English Major Seminar, my professor offered a gift I had not anticipated: a speech. He spoke of the power of encouragement and offered words of wisdom for us. Towards the end he talked about how an endless cycle of encouragement can lead people to be the best that they can be.

5. EXERCISE

Just get moving. DO anything. I’ve been walking like crazy and I’ve never felt so relaxed. Here are some of the odd (well, odd for me)exercises I’ve been doing:

Running with my Toy dog

Throwing pebbles across a creek

Going on a swing

Jazz Dance (I am the ONLY person under 30 in that class)

Zumba (AMAZING)

Golf

I think I’m going to take up Kayaking, I found an awesome class that is pretty cheap in Virginia (:

I was nominated! NOMINATED. I have been nominated! Someone N-O-M-I-Nated me!!??

I was nominated for placement in a program for the Peace Corps!

It’s something I’ve wanted to do. Its been my dream since High School. But, the question is, what happens after that? I’ve always wanted to be an in the moment person, but my worrying always gets in the way. I don’t allow fear to get in the way all the time, but it definitely has. The Peace Corps was something I told myself I wouldn’t be fearful of and I’m not turning back.

“Replace fear of the unknown with Curiosity” (Picture I took in Brazil Jan. 2012)

I saw this quote in a random country music video and I agree. Its hard to completely throw caution to the wind, so I’ve reached a semi-adventurous medium that I like to call Cautious Freedom. Its me letting go with sense. Not holding back sense but staying grounded senses. I’m looking forward to where life is going to take me (: